Bhagavatapurana 10.48: athāṣṭacatvāriṃśo'dhyāyaḥ

10.48.1

/0 śrī-śuka uvāca
atha vijñāya bhagavān sarvātmā sarva-darśanaḥ /
sairandhryāḥ kāma-taptāyāḥ priyam icchan gṛhaṃ yayau //

Śrī Śuka said: / Then the Lord, the Self of all, who sees all, / wishing to please the maidservant who was tormented by desire, went to her house,

1. Sri Suka said:— Then the Almighty Lord, the Antaryamin of all and omniscient, knew the fact and went to the house of the maid-servant Trivakra to grant her prayer as she was pining for Him.

10.48.2

mahārhopaskarair āḍhyaṃ kāmopāyopabṛṃhitam /
muktā-dāma-patākābhir vitāna-śayanāsanaiḥ /
dhūpaiḥ surabhibhir dīpaiḥ srag-gandhair api maṇḍitam //

which was rich with costly furnishings, enhanced with accessories for love, / decorated with strings of pearls, banners, canopies, beds, and seats, / and adorned with fragrant incenses, lamps, garlands, and scents.

2. The house was furnished with princely furniture, full of those arrangements which enhance passion, decorated with wreaths of pearls, flags, canopies, beds and seats, and perfumed with scented fumes and lights, garlands of flowers and spices (Adorned with paintings in various colours and of splendid designs according to Kamasastra).

10.48.3

gṛhaṃ tam āyāntam avekṣya sāsanāt sadyaḥ samutthāya hi jāta-sambhramā /
yathopasaṅgamya sakhībhir acyutaṃ sabhājayām āsa sad-āsanādibhiḥ //

Seeing him arrive at the house, she immediately rose from her seat in fluster; / approaching him together with her female friends, she honored Acyuta with fine seats and other offerings.

3. Seeing Him coming to her house, she rose from her seat in great haste and joy, duly made her obeisance along with her companions and honoured Him with an appropriate seat and other attentions.

10.48.4

tathoddhavaḥ sādhutayābhipūjito nyaṣīdad urvyām abhimṛśya cāsanam /
kṛṣṇo 'pi tūrṇaṃ śayanaṃ mahā-dhanaṃ viveśa lokācaritāny anuvrataḥ //

Uddhava, likewise worshipped with propriety, touched the seat and sat on the floor; / and Kṛṣṇa quickly entered the luxurious bed, following worldly customs.

4. Next Uddhava was similarly honoured as a righteous man and he touched the seat offered to him and sat down on the bare ground. Then following the practices of the world Krishna took His seat on the costly bed arranged in the house.

10.48.5

sā majjanālepa-dukūla-bhūṣaṇa srag-gandha-tāmbūla-sudhāsavādibhiḥ /
prasādhitātmopasasāra mādhavaṃ sa-vrīḍa-līlotsmita-vibhramekṣitaiḥ //

Having adorned herself with bathing, ointments, fine silk, ornaments, / garlands, perfumes, betel nut, and nectar-like wine, she approached Mādhava with bashful, playful smiles and coquettish glances.

5. She took her bath and prepared herself with pigments, fine cloths, ornaments, wreaths of flowers, special betel, the nectar-like beverage and the like and approached Madhava with bashful and sportful smiles, deportment and looks.

10.48.6

āhūya kāntāṃ nava-saṅgama-hriyā viśaṅkitāṃ kaṅkaṇa-bhūṣite kare /
pragṛhya śayyām adhiveśya rāmayā reme 'nulepārpaṇa-puṇya-leśayā //

Calling the lovely woman who hesitated out of shyness at their first union, / taking her bracelet-adorned hand, and drawing her to the bed, he sported with the charming woman in return for a fraction of the merit of her offering of ointment.

6. He called to His side the woman who hesitated on account of their first meeting and took her by the hand adorned with bracelet, and set her on the bed and gave her delight for the little merit she had earned by willingly offering Him the pigment.

10.48.6.p1

sānaṅga-tapta-kucayor urasas tathākṣṇor $ jighranty ananta-caraṇena rujo mṛjantī &

Smelling his lotus feet and wiping away the torment of her breasts, chest, and eyes / inflamed by the god of love, with the feet of the Infinite One,

7. She smelled the feet of Ananta and brushed off her pains caused by Ananga in her bosom and in her eyes and, by embracing the beloved and blissful Krishna with both her arms, she completely got rid of the sufferings endured for long.

10.48.7

dorbhyāṃ stanāntara-gataṃ parirabhya kāntam % ānanda-mūrtim ajahād ati-dīrgha-tāpam //

and embracing with her arms her beloved, the embodiment of bliss, held between her breasts, / she cast away her long-lasting anguish.

10.48.8

saivaṃ kaivalya-nāthaṃ taṃ prāpya duṣprāpyam īśvaram /
aṅga-rāgārpaṇenāho durbhagedam ayācata //

Having attained that Lord, the master of absolute liberation, who is so difficult to attain, / merely by offering body ointment, alas, the unfortunate woman made this request:

8. Having, for the matter of having offered some pigment, thus secured the presence of the Lord of heaven, the inaccessible Supreme Ruler of the Universe, that unlucky woman asked but this of Him.

10.48.9

sahoṣyatām iha preṣṭha dināni katicin mayā /
ramasva notsahe tyaktuṃ saṅgaṃ te 'mburuhekṣaṇa //

“Stay here with me for a few days, O dearest one! / Sport with me; I cannot bear to leave your company, O lotus-eyed one.”

9. She said, “O most beloved one, May Thou be pleased to stay with me for a few days, giving me delight; I cannot forego Thy company, O Lord of lotus-like eyes.”

10.48.10

tasyai kāma-varaṃ dattvā mānayitvā ca māna-daḥ /
sahoddhavena sarveśaḥ sva-dhāmāgamad ṛddhimat //

Granting her the boon she desired and honoring her, he who bestows honor, / the Lord of all, went with Uddhava to his own opulent abode.

10. The Lord of all, who knows how to do it, conferred on her the boon of joy and honoured her with suitable presents, and then returned with Uddhava to His splendid palace. 11. He who, having pleased Vishnu, the Supreme Ruler of all rulers, not easy to propitiate, asks for the trivial pleasures of the world, is certainly an unworthy creature endowed with a poor understanding.

10.48.11

durārdhyaṃ samārādhya viṣṇuṃ sarveśvareśvaram /
yo vṛṇīte mano-grāhyam asattvāt kumanīṣy asau //

Having thoroughly worshipped Viṣṇu, the Lord of all lords, who is difficult to worship, / he who chooses what merely charms the senses is of poor intellect due to lack of goodness.

10.48.12

akrūra-bhavanaṃ kṛṣṇaḥ saha-rāmoddhavaḥ prabhuḥ /
kiñcic cikīrṣayan prāgād akrūra-prīya-kāmyayā //

The Lord Kṛṣṇa, accompanied by Rāma and Uddhava, / went to the house of Akrūra, wishing to accomplish a purpose and desiring to please Akrūra.

12. To grant the prayer of Akrura and to send him on an errand the Lord Krishna with Rama and Uddhava paid a visit to his house.

10.48.13

sa tān nara-vara-śreṣṭhān ārād vīkṣya sva-bāndhavān /
pratyutthāya pramuditaḥ pariṣvajyābhinandya ca //

Seeing those best of men and his own kinsmen approaching, / he rose in delight, embraced them, and greeted them warmly.

13. & 14. From a distance he saw the foremost Persons who were his relations, rose and went forth in great joy, embraced Them all and when They had taken Their seats, he honoured Them according to Sastra.

10.48.14

nanāma kṛṣṇaṃ rāmaṃ ca sa tair apy abhivāditaḥ /
pūjayām āsa vidhi-vat kṛtāsana-parigrahān //

He bowed to Kṛṣṇa and Rāma, and, being greeted in return by them, / he properly worshipped them once they had accepted their seats.

10.48.15

pādāvanejanīr āpo dhārayan śirasā nṛpa /
arhaṇenāmbarair divyair gandha-srag-bhūṣaṇottamaiḥ //

Bearing on his head the water used to wash their feet, O king, / and honoring them with divine garments, scents, garlands, and exquisite ornaments,

15. & 16. He washed Their feet, O king, and sprinkled his own head with that water, presented clothes, spices, garlands and ornaments, bowed to Them bending low his head, placed Their feet on his lap and wiped them; and, in humble devotion and modesty, Akrura spoke to Krishna and Rama thus:—

10.48.16

arcitvā śirasānamya pādāv aṅka-gatau mṛjan /
praśrayāvanato 'krūraḥ kṛṣṇa-rāmāv abhāṣata //

having worshipped them, bowing his head and massaging their feet placed on his lap, / Akrūra, bent low with reverence, addressed Kṛṣṇa and Rāma:

10.48.17

diṣṭyā pāpo hataḥ kaṃsaḥ sānugo vām idaṃ kulam /
bhavadbhyām uddhṛtaṃ kṛcchrād durantāc ca samedhitam //

By good fortune the wicked Kaṃsa has been slain along with his followers, and this dynasty of yours, / rescued by the two of you from endless distress, has been made to prosper.

17. ‘Fortunately by you both the sinful Kamsa with his followers has been laid low: this race has been rescued from endless difficulties and made to prosper.’

10.48.18

yuvāṃ pradhāna-puruṣau jagad-dhetū jagan-mayau /
bhavadbhyāṃ na vinā kiñcit param asti na cāparam //

You two are the primal matter and the cosmic person, the causes of the universe, consisting of the universe; / apart from you two, there is nothing higher or lower.

18. You both are the most exalted persons, the cause of the world and one with the world; without you both there exists nothing that may be called cause or effect.

10.48.19

ātma-sṛṣṭam idaṃ viśvam anvāviśya sva-śaktibhiḥ /
īyate bahudhā brahman śru ta-pratyakṣa-gocaram //

Having entered this universe created by yourself through your own powers, / you are perceived in many forms, O Brahman, within the realm of what is heard and seen.

19. O Perfect Lord, Thou with Thine own powers hast entered this Universe created by Thyself and Thou appearest in endless forms as are in the range of the ear and the eye.

10.48.20

yathā hi bhūteṣu carācareṣu mahy-ādayo yoniṣu bhānti nānā /
evaṃ bhavān kevala ātma-yoniṣv ātmātma-tantro bahudhā vibhāti //

Just as earth and the other [elements] appear diverse in living beings moving and unmoving, according to their wombs, / so you, the one, absolute, and self-reliant Self, shine forth in diverse ways within the wombs created by yourself.

20. Just as the earth, water, etc., make their appearance in various ways through beings, moving or stationary and in many classes of creatures, so Thou, though absolute, never under the control of any other, appearest as many in beings that have their origin in Thee.

10.48.21

sṛjasy atho lumpasi pāsi viśvaṃ rajas-tamaḥ-sattva-guṇaiḥ sva-śaktibhiḥ /
na badhyase tad-guṇa-karmabhir vā jñānātmanas te kva ca bandha-hetuḥ //

You create, dissolve, and protect the universe through the qualities of passion, darkness, and purity by your own powers; / yet you are not bound by their qualities or actions, for where could there be a cause of bondage for you whose nature is knowledge?

21. Through the gunas, Tamas and Satva which are Thy

own powers, Thou createst, destroyest or protectest the Universe; but Thou art not bound (influenced) by those gunas or Karma: for, nothing could limit Thee that art essentially consciousness (Jnana).

10.48.22

dehādy-upādher anirūpitatvād bhavo na sākṣān na bhidātmanaḥ syāt /
ato na bandhas tava naiva mokṣaḥ syātām nikāmas tvayi no 'vivekaḥ //

Because adjuncts such as the body are ultimately unprovable, for the self there can be no actual cycle of birth nor division; / therefore there can be neither bondage nor liberation for you—our notion of them in you is completely born of lack of discrimination.

22. A body and other conditions cannot be supposed to limit Thee: therefore no birth or difference could in the real sense be predicated of Atman; neither bondage nor Moksha: but it is all our unlimited folly (that projects them on to Thee).

10.48.23

tvayodito 'yaṃ jagato hitāya yadā yadā veda-pathaḥ purāṇaḥ /
bādhyeta pāṣaṇḍa-pathair asadbhis tadā bhavān sattva-guṇaṃ bibharti //

Whenever this ancient path of the Vedas, spoken by you for the welfare of the world, / is obstructed by the wicked ways of heretics, you assume the quality of purity.

23. Whenever the ancient path of Veda taught by Thyself for the good of the world is interrupted by the wicked that strike into the ways of miscreants, Thou assumest the quality of Satva.

10.48.23.p1

sa tvam prabho 'dya vasudeva-gṛhe 'vatīrṇaḥ $ svāṃśena bhāram apanetum ihāsi bhūmeḥ &

That very Lord, descended today into the house of Vasudeva by your partial manifestation, are here to remove the burden of the earth,

24 That Lord Thou art, O Almighty Ruler, now come down in Thine own Amsa into the house of Vasudeva and Thou art here to remove the earth’s burden by destroying a hundred Akshauhinis of the kings born with the *Asura-amsa* and to expand the glory of this race.

10.48.24

akṣauhiṇī-śata-vadhena suretarāṃśa- % rājñām amuṣya ca kulasya yaśo vitanvan //

by slaying hundreds of military divisions of kings who are portions of demons, and spreading the renown of this family.

10.48.24.p2

adyeśa no vasatayaḥ khalu bhūri-bhāgā $ yaḥ sarva-deva-pitṛ-bhūta-nṛ-deva-mūrtiḥ &

Today, O Lord, our dwellings have indeed become greatly fortunate, into which you, the embodiment of all gods, ancestors, beings, and kings,

25. To day, O Lord, our houses are full of fortune and prosperity, when they are visited by Him who is the embodiment of all the gods, Pitris, Bhutas and kings, the waters washing whose feet purify the three worlds and who is, O Adhokshaja, the father and preceptor of all.

10.48.24.p3

adyeśa no vasatayaḥ khalu bhūri-bhāgā $ yaḥ sarva-deva-pitṛ-bhūta-nṛ-deva-mūrtiḥ &

today, O Lord, our dwellings have indeed become greatly fortunate, into which you, the embodiment of all gods, ancestors, beings, and kings,

10.48.25

yat-pāda-śauca-salilaṃ tri-jagat punāti % sa tvaṃ jagad-gurur adhokṣaja yāḥ praviṣṭaḥ //

whose foot-washing water purifies the three worlds, you, the teacher of the universe, Adhokṣaja, have entered.

10.48.25.p2

kaḥ paṇḍitas tvad aparaṃ śaraṇaṃ samīyād $ bhakta-priyād ṛta-giraḥ suhṛdaḥ kṛta-jñāt &

What wise person would approach anyone other than you for refuge—[you who are] dear to your devotees, truthful of speech, a friend, and grateful?

26. Which wise man would resort for protection to any one other than Thyself that art so kind, so true in word and deed, so friendly, so appreciating to Thy votaries? Thou bestowest on those good-hearted souls that worship Thee all their desires, even Thine own self that is ever free from decay or growth.

10.48.25.p3

kaḥ paṇḍitas tvad aparaṃ śaraṇaṃ samīyād $ bhakta-priyād ṛta-giraḥ suhṛdaḥ kṛta-jñāt &

What wise person would approach anyone other than you for refuge—[you who are] dear to your devotees, truthful of speech, a friend, and grateful?

10.48.26

sarvān dadāti suhṛdo bhajato 'bhikāmān % ātmānam apy upacayāpacayau na yasya //

You give all desired things to the friend who worships you, even yourself, you who have neither increase nor decrease.

10.48.26.p2

diṣṭyā janārdana bhavān iha naḥ pratīto $ yogeśvarair api durāpa-gatiḥ sureśaiḥ &

By good fortune, O Janārdana, you whose path is difficult to attain even for masters of yoga and chiefs of gods, have appeared here to us.

27. O Janardana, fortunately for us Thou hast come here directly before our eyes, though Thou are not of easy access even to the great Yogins and to even the gods: may Thou be pleased to cut off the bondage due to Thy Maya, i. e., the foolish attachment to children, wives, wealth, relations, houses, the body and the like:

10.48.26.p3

diṣṭyā janārdana bhavān iha naḥ pratīto $ yogeśvarair api durāpa-gatiḥ sureśaiḥ &

By good fortune, O Janārdana, you whose path is difficult to attain even for masters of yoga and chiefs of gods, have appeared here to us.

10.48.27

chindhy āśu naḥ suta-kalatra-dhanāpta-geha- % dehādi-moha-raśanāṃ bhavadīya-māyām //

Sever swiftly our tether of delusion—consisting of sons, wife, wealth, kin, house, body, and the like—which is your own creative power.

10.48.28

ity arcitaḥ saṃstutaś ca bhaktena bhagavān hariḥ /
akrūraṃ sa-smitaṃ prāha gīrbhiḥ sammohayann iva //

Thus worshipped and praised by his devotee, the Lord Hari / spoke to Akrūra with a smile, as if charming him with his words:

28. Thus worshipped and praised by the devout Akrura, the

Almighty Hari smilingly said to him as if He would delude him.

10.48.29

/0 śrī-bhagavān uvāca
tvaṃ no guruḥ pitṛvyaś ca ślāghyo bandhuś ca nityadā /
vayaṃ tu rakṣyāḥ poṣyāś ca anukampyāḥ prajā hi vaḥ //

The Lord said:
You are always our elder, our uncle, and our praiseworthy relative; / we are indeed your subjects to be protected, nourished, and treated with compassion.

29. The Lord said:— Thou art a father and preceptor, an uncle, always a worthy relation, whereas we are children to be guarded, nourished and looked upon with compassion.

10.48.30

bhavad-vidhā mahā-bhāgā niṣevyā arha-sattamāḥ /
śreyas-kāmair nṛbhir nityaṃ devāḥ svārthā na sādhavaḥ //

Exalted, highly fortunate persons like you, the most virtuous of the venerable, / must always be served by people seeking welfare; the gods are self-interested, but virtuous devotees are not.

30. Blessed (devout) persons like thee are most worthy to be waited upon and worshipped by those human beings who seek after blessings: the gods look always to their own purposes: but not so saintly persons.

10.48.31

na hy am-mayāni tīrthāni na devā mṛc-chilā-mayāḥ /
te punanty uru-kālena darśanād eva sādhavaḥ //

For holy places composed of water and deities made of clay or stone / purify only after a long time, but virtuous devotees do so merely by sight.

31. Neither holy theerthas in the form of waters are not such, nor are not the gods in the form of earth and stones: still thy purify man through a long process of time, whereas the righteous purify him at the very sight.

10.48.32

sa bhavān suhṛdāṃ vai naḥ śreyān śreyaś-cikīrṣayā /
jijñāsārthaṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ gacchasva tvaṃ gajāhvayam //

As you are the best among our friends, out of a desire to promote welfare / and to learn the news of the Pāṇḍavas, go to Gajāsahvaya.

32. Thou art that best friend of all friends and most worthy one! do thou kindly go to Hastinapura for making enquiries about Pandavas and for the purpose of conferring a blessing on them.

10.48.33

pitary uparate bālāḥ saha mātrā su-duḥkhitāḥ /
ānītāḥ sva-puraṃ rājñā vasanta iti śuśruma //

We hear that after their father passed away, the boys, deeply grieving along with their mother, / were brought to his own city by the king and are living there.

33. We hear that when the father died those children and their mother in grief were brought by the king Dhritarashtra to his capital and that they now live there.

10.48.34

teṣu rājāmbikā-putro bhrātṛ-putreṣu dīna-dhīḥ /
samo na vartate nūnaṃ duṣputra-vaśa-go 'ndha-dṛk //

Toward those sons of his brother, the king, the son of Ambikā, whose mind is wretched, / surely does not act impartially, being blind of vision and subject to the control of his wicked son.

34. The king, Ambika's son, under the influence of his wicked sons, being himself blind and poor of mind, does not certainly treat his brother's sons with impartiality.

10.48.35

gaccha jānīhi tad-vṛttam adhunā sādhv asādhu vā /
vijñāya tad vidhāsyāmo yathā śaṃ suhṛdāṃ bhavet //

Go, find out their situation now, whether good or bad; / having learned that, we shall arrange matters so that there may be well-being for our friends.

35. Do thou go now and ascertain his behaviour whether good or bad. On ascertaining the fact we shall so arrange as to make our friends happy.

10.48.36

ity akrūraṃ samādiśya bhagavān harir īśvaraḥ /
saṅkarṣaṇoddhavābhyāṃ vai tataḥ sva-bhavanaṃ yayau //

Having thus instructed Akrūra, the Lord Hari, the sovereign ruler, / went with Saṅkarṣaṇa and Uddhava to his own palace.

36. Having thus instructed Akrura, the glorious Ruler Hari accompanied by Sankarshana and Uddhava, returned to His palace.